Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-12-16
Woman Suffrage.

to provide for the extension OF the
franchise to women are the most prom.
inent. 1t is well that this question
has been introduced thus early in the
session, so that its every feature may
be closely scrutinized and its pros and
cons deliberately weighed. At best il
is stupid question and is the work
of few, Il very small minority indeed
of the fair ones of the Territory, who
not content with the privileges OF
their sex would intrude themselves
into fields and burden themselves with
labors which strictly are only for men
and fit only for men to engage in
Women as rule have quick sympa-
thies, which if fattered are apt to be-
come sound prejudices; then no rea-
son on earth will alter their opinion
convince woman against her will
she's of the same opinion still" We
admit there are few, who have de-
veloped into deep thinkers, and given
to the world some literary gems; their
writings however have all more or
less sympathetic turn, and appeal
more to the feelings, of the reader
than To the readers reason. 1t is in
reading the works Of our great women
we perceive most distinctly this fault
or failing, OF sympathy overruling
Justice. Let Il woman's mind be how
ever strong, let her reasoning powers
be however well developed, let her
head be however we'll packed with jul
risprudence or political economy, that
innate sympathy crops up and over
turns them all. 1t is the natural con-
dition of a woman to be sympathetic
it is II specia, trait in her nature; it is
the magnet which attaches man tC
her, and no woman who is over
burdened with learning foreign to hel
nature has the same attraction foI
man as one who has been taught ac'
cording to her nature. Is there one
among you who has a loving sympa'
thetic wife who desires to have q say
in political matters? We may safely
assert there is not one. A true wo
man will find her proper sphere in the
family circle, not on the hustings; in
the hospital, not on the battlefield
The foundations of a life are laiC
when the child first becomes sensible
of its surroundings. The impres
sions then created are lasting, and are
the germs which grow, develop ant
expand, ever acquiring wider range
of action as the faculties become
stronger. 1t is then the influence o
the mother is felt. 1t is the mothe
who lays the foundation of the future
life; the character of the mother i
mirrored in the character of her of
spring. Let women attend to TIN
proper training of the child, and TIN
question of woman suffrage will sool
die a natural DEATH When once
woman becomes engaged in politica
affairs, she loses all her natural deli
cacy, all modesty, in fact all thos
charms which endear her to man.
we concede the suffragcs of the elec
toral franchise to women, we mus
also concede all the responsibilities, al
the burdens, duties, and labors per
tanning to public matters; she mus
undertake her share of public burdens
she must endure the hardships of roa'
labor as well as jury service, and sh
must share the dangers in the arm.
or navy in protecting our countr.
against the foreign invader and in up
holding internal law and order. Wha
kind of an impression would a woman
create, standing on the hustings de
livering political speech! How woul,
she look with a pick and shovel in he
hands working on our roads! What
comical figure she would cut in mill
tary uniform all belted and accoutred
or climbing the rigging of man-Of
war as n sailor! Would she look lik
Il woman think you? We will leav
you to answer for yourselves. Asid
from all this, is it wise to precipitat
the passage OF such bill on the ev
of seeking admission us State? Ha
this act not been already delared un
constitutional by the Supreme Cour
of the Territory? Will it not cndange
the admission of the Territory as
State il such bill is on the statute
of its enabling constitution? If tn
State constitution on which you seel
admission is opposed to the politica
ideas of governing majority. tn
admission will be refused on tina
ground. We would suggest therefor
that the question be deferred till afte
the Territory has been admitted as
State, rather than hazard refusal
1t has been declared unconstitutiOna
by competent judges and that deci
sion is not likely to be reversed il
Congress.
In this Territory female suflrag
was imposed upon the people fou
years ago, and practically went int
operation in 1884. Both pOlitica
parties anxious for the suffrages of tn
new voters, in that year, declared 10
il. To have failed to do this by eithe
would have been to invite women +
vote for the other. Both parties wer
honest in their intentions, and bot
probably were willing that the exper